Player-piano



S. L. FISHER.

PLAYER PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED MAY s. 19H].

1,329,702. Patented Feb. 3,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- S. L. FISHER.

PLAYER PIANO.

APPLICATION man MAY 8. 191a.

Patented Feb. 3, 1920.

2 SHEET$-SHEET 2- UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE.

STANLEY L. FISHER, OF CHESTER, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE PRATT READ PLAYER ACTION COMPANY, 0): DIET)? RIVER, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATIONOF CONNECTICUT.

YLAYEH- Application filed May 8, 1918.

l '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, STANLEY L. FISHER, a subject of the King 01' Great Britain, residing in Chester, county of Middlesex, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improy'ements in Player- Pianos, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to player pianos, and it has more particular reference to pneumatically actuated pianos of the upright type, wherein a so-callcd upper action or chest with its appurtenant valve mechanism and pneumatics for operating the respective units of the piano action proper extends across the front of the piano in the case thereof above the keyboard and in front of the piano action, each unit of the player action being properly connected with and adapted to operate the corresponding unit of the piano action. Each pianoact-ion unit ordinarily comprises a hammer for striking the string, a pivoted wippen or jack beam, and a hammer jack mounted on the wippen in the customary manner, the wippen being operated to actuate the hammer by a connection with the corresponding player action unit for pneumatic playing, and said Wippenbeina connected with the corresponding key of the piano for playing by hand.

One oi the primary objects of my inven tion is the provision of. an improved and simplified player action of the general type set forth, which has the advantages of compactness. eflieiency of operation, ready access sibilitv for inspection and adjustment, and low cost.

More specifically, the object of my in3Tffntion is to provide an improved form of connection between each striker pneumatic and the corresponding unit of the piano action, by which the number of parts is cut down, While. at the same time, provision is made for an easy but nice adjustment, wherein" the hammers may be caused to strike the strings properly and uniformly.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic vertical trans-- verse section through the upper portion of a player piano embodying my improrements,

PIANO. 1

Serial No. 233,217.

showing the main parts of one of the piano action units, and the wind chest, valvemec'h- :alllSlll and striker pneumatics of the player action;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of certain pa rts shown in F ig. 1, partly in section on l ne 22 of Fig. 1; and r Fig. 3 isa section on line 33of F' In the practice of nyj invention tlie"p ano action A canine for thcniostipatt ot tisilal, i a. although carious chan'ges :rnade in this respect, j l'n the embodimentfi n's noted, I have shown the ordinany form'ki piano action unit, ybm i-is a ham-net 10 forstriking thestring, l1, p voted "atl? to the rail 13, from vhic'h is piiotally' sup ported at it the customary, pi en 1 5, carrying the usual pivoted haniirir'jack 16 and other parts which have notjconsidereil it necessary to illustrate. P iy'o ted t' o [the wippen 15 near the outer fieeen'cliofthe same is the customary sticker or abstifact 3T. 'ihe'pivot betweentheahstract and an pen is shoi'viret 18. Extending' acro'ss"the i i-out of thepian'o in front of the piano ai-tir'zn abo i theikey board (not shownl is a pncmnatic player action designated. genr-rallv Thl? pnenmaticac'tion Bloomprises a chest worlt'C, benieath which are car ried a lnrality of striker pneun'iatics"19 prefera ly arranged in two difi'erent tiers, as shown. These pneumaties reject rearvcardly from the chest 'work 1 toward the piano action units, there being one pneumatic for each of said units. The prieuf matics of the two tiers are arranged in etc.egeredrelation, The pnei'tinatics o fthc upper tier 'eiit'e'ndat their rearextremities into close proximity tothe forward ends the wippjenszpf the. piano action, heingnr-f ranged at approximately thesai'n'e' :l'e el as said wigjp'en's,ithile th e pneumatics" ofthe other n t-mi. slightly bel'ow'tl l en's; reterahlm the pneiiinatics otboth'tiers are inclin d slightly in an np ward rearw rd direction, as shown, 'T The particular construction of 'thelchest work 0 is immaterial to the presentfiinve'n? tion, but it ma be said' that leali fof'the striker pneumatics" 19 is controlldh"'ia trolled in tnrnhy a diaphrag nilwjit hich, in tu rn,'is controlled in,the customary manner from the usual tracker bar The neum tic l9, Wh se mcveh slewes are Patented Feb. 3, 19203 lowermost, are collapsed by the admission of air to the action through the perforations in the music sheet and the holes in the tracker bar in the customary manner. As the pneumatics collapse, their lower movable parts or leaves are raised and this movement is transmitted to the. corresponding wippens 15 of the piano action, in such a manner that the strings are properly struck by the hammers. For this purpose, each of the wippens of the piano action is adapted to be actuated by a rigid striker on the corresponding pneumatic. In the form shown, each of the upper pneumatics has a small, rigid striker constituted by a cleat or extension 20 rigidly secured by a screw 21 to the under surface of the movable leaf of the pneumatic at the rear of said leaf. A part of the cleat extends rearwardly beyond the leaf and under a button 22 carried by the wippen at the forward end thereof. The button 22 has a layer of felt 22 on its lower surface, adapted to be struck by the corresponding rigid striker extension or projection 20. The normal position of the parts is shown in Fig. 1, from which it will be manifest that as the upper neumatics 19 are collapsed, the buttons 22 will be raised, thereby carrying upward the front parts of the respective wippens and moving them about their pivots 14 so as to actuate the corresponding hammers. The buttons 22 appurtenant to the pneumatics of the lower tier are arranged in line with those appurtenant to the upper neumatics, all of the buttons of the whole piano action being substantially in line with each other, and the lower pneumatics are provided with rigid strikers which extend up into coffpelfttlOIl with the corresponding buttons.

he rigid strikers of the lower pneumatics are formed by cleats 23 secured to the lower leaves of said pneumatics by screws 21 in substantially the same relation as the cleats 20, but the cleats 23 are provided with rigid upward extensions 23 located adjacent the rear ends of the lower pneumatics and presenting rigid finger-like members which extend at their upper ends into the spaces between the cleats or strikers 20 with which they alternate. The strikers of both tiers of pnenmatics are'preferably made of wood, and their upper striking surfaces, cooperating with the buttons 22, are preferably curved, so as to make the most advantageous striking contact with the buttons. The buttons 22 are vertically adjustable, inasmuch as they are provided with threaded stems or shanks 24 engaging threaded sockets passing through the front ends of the respective wippens in a substantially vertical direction. At their upper ends, the threaded shanks of the buttons are provided with manipulating heads 25 which enable them to be screwed up and down,

0., toward or away from the cooperating rigid strikers 20 or 23. In this manner, a very nice adjustment of the player action can be obtained after the same has been installed in the piano case; and all lost motion between the pneumatics and the corresponding wippens can be readily taken up, so that a full actuation of the piano action unit by the corresponding player action unit will be insured. On the other hand, in order to prevent an upward movement of the wippen beyond the extent required, a suitable stop mechanism is provided, which cooperates with the forward end of the wippens. Preferably, the stop mechanism includes a rail 26 extending across the upper faces of the upper pneumatics at the rear of said pneumatics and disposed lengthwise of the piano, said rail being provided with a pluralit of independently adjustable stop buttons 2 7 The rail 26 may be supported in any suitable manner on the player action. The buttons 27 are preferably similar to the buttons 22, having threaded shanks 28 engaging screw threaded openings in the sto rail 26 and provided at their upper end s with manipulating heads 29. The rear part of the stop rail projects beyond the upper pneumatics so as to partially overhang the same, and the stop buttons 27 are supported by the overhanging portion of the rail, with the buttons below the rail close to the rear ends of the pneumatics, and the manipulating heads 29 above the rail, where they are readily accessible from above. Preferably, the front end of each wippen is beveled or chamfered, as shown at 30, so as to present an upwardly and rearwardly inclined stop surface which contacts flatwise with the felt layer 27* of the corresponding stop butten when the wippen is raised. The arrangement is such that when the wippen is arrested at about the usual upper limit of its movement, the stop surface 30 thereon is substantially parallel to and in contact with the lower surface of the stop button. whereby a cushioned but very effective stop is provided. When one of the pneumatics is collapsed, the corresponding wippen is raised until its beveled surface engages the under surface of the corresponding stop button, which should previously be ad justed to the proper height by manipulation of its threaded shank.

It will be observed that the contact buttons on the wippens and the stop buttons on the stop rail are arranged very close together and both series are accessible for adjustment from above. The stop buttons and the contact buttons may, therefore, be readily regulated from closely adjacent points, the two series being parallel to each other and compactly arranged for the greatest accessibility. It will be observed that. while the stop buttons are normally located above the contact buttons, the shanks of the buttons of the two series are approximately parallel to each other, the threaded shanks 24 of the contact buttons 22 passing through approximately vertical threaded sockets in the respective. wippens, which sockets are located at substantially the rear boundaries or margins of the respective stop surfa -cs 30 of the wippens.

The arrangement described is extremely compact, takes up very little room in the piano case, comprises very few parts. and yet provides a very nice adjustment. A minimum number of parts is interposed between each pneumatic and the corresponding piano action unit, and yet the provision for taking care of lost motion between the pneumatic, the striker and the wippen, and for limiting the swing or play of the wippen, is simple, eflicient and generally satisfactory.

In installing the player action, it is merely necessary to locate the chest work properly with respect to the piano action units, after which the adjustment of the various contact buttons and stop buttons is a very easy matter. These buttons are "cry readily accessible from above the chest work as long as the upper front panel of the piano case is removed.

Various changes may be made in the details of .the construction without departing from the scope of my invention as defined in the claims.

I do not claim herein the chest structure and valve mechanism, as the same is claimed in my application Serial No. 230,417; nor do I claim broadly herein striker members projecting rigidly from the movable. leaves of pneumatics of different. tiers and having striking surfaces located in substantiall a single line or series extending across the piano for contacting with the piano action units and thereby actuating the same. nor the provision of stop means carried by and forming an integral part of the pneumatic player action for limiting the movement of the piano action units, nor other features broadly claimed in said application.

hat I claim is 1. In a player piano, piano action units including wippens and stickers, a wind chest in front of the same, tiers of pneuniatics connected to said wind chest and extending rearwardly therefrom, means for collapsing said pneumatics, and striker members rigid with the movable leaves of said pneumatics and projecting under the front ends of said wippens for lifting the same directly independently of said stickers.

2. In a player piano, a piano action including a plurality of wippens, a wind chest in front of the same. upper and lower stag gored tiers of pneumatics connected to said wind chest and extending rearwardly therefrom, said pneumatics having their movable leaves lowermost, and striker members rigid with the movable leaves of said pneumatlcs and arranged to contact with front end portions of said wippens to lift the same.

3. In a player piano, piano action units including wippens, a pneumatic player action in front of the same having staggered tiers of pneumatics extending rearwardly toward said units and having their movable leaves lowermost, the upper tier of pneumatics being substantially at the same level as said wippens, striker members on the movable leaves of the pneumatics of the upper tier extending under the front ends of certain wippens for lifting the same directly, and striker members carried wholly by and projecting rigidly upward from the movable leaves of pneumatics of a lower tier into spaces between said first named striker members and beneath other wippens for lifting the same directly.

4. In a player piano, piano action units including wippens, a pneumatic player action in front of the same including a wind. chest and tiers of pneumatics connected to said chest at the lower part thereof and i'nclined rearwardly and upwardly toward said piano action units, said Pneumatics having their movable leaves lowermost, and

the upper tier of neumatics being substantially at the same level as said wip'pens, and striker members carried wholly byand having fixed relation to the movable leaves of the pneumat-ics of said tiers and projecting under the front ends of said wippens in close proximity thereto in order to act on and lift the same directly.

In a player piano, piano action units including wippens, a pneumatic pla er action structure in front of the same raving staggered tiers of pneumatics extending rearwardly toward said units and having their movable leaves lowermost, one tier of pneumatics being substantially at the same level as said wippens, and striker members having a fixed relation to the movable leaves of the pneumatics of said tiers and projecting under the front ends of said wippens in close proximity thereto in orderto act on and lift the same directly.

6. In a player piano, a plurality of piano action units each including a 'wippen, a wind chest in front of said units, pneumatics operatively connected with said chest and extending rearwardly therefrom, said pneumatics arranged in different tiers in staggered relation, rigid strikers on the movable leaves of said neumatics at the rear ends thereof, and adjustable buttons carried by the wippens and overlying said strikers so as to be lifted thereby when the pneumatics are collapsed, whereby said piano action units are actuated, said buttons all being located in a single series and the upper ends of the strikers of the upper and lower pneumatics lying in substantially a single plane.

7. In a player piano, a. plurality of piano action units including wippens, a wind chest in front of the same, pneumatics projecting rearwardly from said chest and having their movable leaves lowermost, said pncuumtics arranged in different tiers, projections rigid with the movable leaves of said pneuinatics at the ends thereof, the projections of both tiers of pneumatics having their upper ends located in substantially a single plane, and adjustable contact buttons in said plane engageable by said projections and carried by the vippens above the latter.

8. In a player piano, a piano action unit including a wippen, an adjustable contact button carried by the wippen, a pneumatic player action including a rearwardly extending pneumatic in front of the piano action unit, having a movable lower leaf, a rigid striker member on said movable leaf underlying said contact button, and an adjustable stop button forming a part of the pneumatic action structure and positioned to be engaged by the forward end of the wippenand to limit the upward throw thereof.

9. In a player piano, a plurality of piano action units including wippens, said wippens provided at the upper forward parts thereof with stopsurfaces, a pneumatic player action including neumatics having means for engaging said piano action units, a sto rail secured to and formin an integral part of said player action an extending across the piano action, and upwardly adjustable buttons on said stop rail for engagement by the corresponding stop surfaces of the wippens to thereby limit the upward throw of said wippens.

10. In a player piano, a plurality of piano action units including wippens, said wippens provided at the upper forward parts thereof with stop surfaces, contact buttons beneath the forward ends of said wippens having threaded shanks passing through the respective Wippens at the rear of said step surfaces, a pneumatic player action including neumatics having means forengag-ing said contact buttons, a stop rail secured to and formingpart ofsaid player action and extending across the to s of said neumatics adjacent the rear e ges thereo and upwardly adjustable buttons on, said step rail in front of and above said contact buttons for engagement by the corresponding stop surfaces of the wippens to thereby limit the upward throw of said wippens.

11. In a player piano, a plurality of piano action units, including wippens, said wippens provided at the upper forward parts thereof with stop surfaces, contact buttons beneath the forward ends of said Wippens having threaded shanks passing through the respective wippens at the rear of said stop surfaces, a player action including pneumaties having means for engaging said content buttons, a stop rail secured to said player action adjacent the rear ends of said pneumatics, and upwardly adjustable buttons on said step rail in front of and above said contact buttons for engagement by the corresponding stop surfaces of the wippens to thereby limit the upward throw of said Wip-' pens, the stop surfaces of said wippens being upwardly and rearwardly inclined, and said step buttons beingdisposed at the rear of said pneumatics and having threaded shanks engaging a portion of said stop rail n'ojecting rearwardly beyondthe rear up:

per edges of said pneumatics.

1,2. In a player piano, a plurality of piano action wippens, a wind chest, Pneumatics arranged in tiers and operatively connected to said wind chest, strikers rigid with the movable leaves of said pneumatics, the upper ends of said strikers lying in substantially a single plane, for contact with ts aid wippens. V

13. In a player piano, a piano action including wippens, a player action,.and means attached to and forming part of said player action and extending across said wippens to limit the operation of said wippens.

14. In a player piano, a piano action'including wippens, a player action including a wind chest havin rearwardly extendin pneumatics arranged in tiers, strikers rigic with the movable leaves of said neumatics and having their upper surfaces'lying in substantially a single plane for contact with said \vippens, and a stop rail formin an integral part of said player action and extending across the same above and slightly to the .rear of thepneumatics of the upper tier for engaging and limiting the swinging movement of said wippens.

In witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand on the 2nd day of May,i1918. 

